Present:
Fumio Nutahara - PWRC
Takuma Kamada - PWRC
Sébastien Loeb - Kronos Total Citroën World Rally Team
Marcus Grönholm - BP-Ford World Rally Team
Matthew Wilson - Stobart VK M-Sport Ford Rally Team
Petter Solberg - Subaru World Rally Team

Welcome to the FIA pre-event press conference.

Q:
Fumio, the Championship started well for you in Monte Carlo with a victory in the PWRC. This is your third event this year, what do you hope to achieve in your home rally? Without Nasser (Al-Attiyah) here - the Championship leader - do you feel there’s a good chance of picking up 10 points?

FN:
I’m very happy to be here, it was a shame about Rally Mexico, but I would like to win in my home event. The leader is not here, I am very motivated and eager to run because it’s been so long since I won in Monte Carlo. I would surely like those 10 points. This is the first challenge of three rallies for me.

Q:
What do you think of the stages here in Japan? It sounds like they’re going to be quite tricky. Is there any extra pressure on your home event?

FN:
The Rally Japan stages are high speed, but they are very slippery because of the rain and some stones were being pulled out into the road. The roads can be quite rough and we have to make sure we don’t get any punctures. I don’t feel any pressure. The only problem for me today was that I crashed a little into the barrier at shakedown.

Q:
We’ve heard how Fumio feels, but what do you think about the stages on your home rally? There’s great rivalry in Japan between Subaru and Mitsubishi; who do you see as your main rivals?

TK:
This is the first time I’ve been here as a PWRC driver. Because of the rain, the roads will be very tough for us. It’s like Fumio says, Nutahara is a strong rival, but I’ll do the best that I can on this rally. Every other competitor is also a very good driver.

Q:
Interestingly, you have an English-speaking, French co-driver in Denis Giraudet. That must present some unique challenges!

TK:
I have been using English pace notes for a long time, so it shouldn’t be a problem. The major problem is the timing of the notes, but my co-driver is very experienced, so this should be good as well. This the first time for me to be with him, so it’s quite difficult to take in the timings and the communications.

Q:
Sébastien, we heard earlier from the PWRC drivers that the stages are difficult here in Japan; what are your thoughts? There will be changing grip levels on this rally, but you’re famously quick on asphalt where the grip changes. Is it more difficult to master these conditions on gravel stages?

SL:
I think it depends on the weather. The conditions we had in the recce were very difficult with a lot of water and mud. The grip was changing in the corners. If it’s like this in the rally, it’s hard to keep the car on the road for three days. If it’s not like this, the rally will not be more tricky than in the last years – although it will be tough without the gravel crews. I don’t like the grip changing on Tarmac when it’s tricky, but I can do good times. Perhaps I understand the colour of the Tarmac changing, but on gravel, especially in the recce, I didn’t understand why sometimes I was sliding and sometimes not. Maybe it will be better on the rally when we have the right tyres.

Q:
Where’s the main opposition coming from; will it be the three guys sitting alongside you? We’ve all been looking at the record books recently. Do you think you can get that 27th win here, to break Carlos Sainz’s record?

SL:
Marcus is always very fast and Petter won here two years ago and was leading last year before he went out. For sure, I will have to push very hard if I want to beat these two drivers. Last year I was not pushing very hard, I wanted to keep the car on the road for the Championship. This year I will do what I can and we’ll see. Sure, I think about the record, but it doesn’t need to be immediate. For me, the most important thing is the Championship. I hope, one day, I will have this 27th victory. Before the rally I think about the event, to do some good work with the setting and things, then after the rally we will think about that.

Q:
Marcus, after that win in Finland and a win here last year, you must be feeling full of confidence? Sébastien has a big lead in the Drivers’ Championship; how much are you looking at overhauling him and how much are you thinking about the Manufacturers’ Championship?

MG:
Last year I was behind Petter; I couldn’t catch him, but finally we won. Confident and confident! Finland was a different story; I couldn’t say how it will be here. It’s very difficult out there. I don’t say anything and then we’ll see on Sunday. The team has not said anything, how to drive or that we have to win. I’m just doing my normal driving. I think we have a chance to fight for Manufacturers; there’s five or six rallies to go. But everything has to go well.

Q:
These stages are going to be difficult, as the other drivers have mentioned. Is there any margin for error with such tight and narrow stages?

MG:
It’s everywhere the same, but here it is narrow and fast. There’s not a lot of space to put a wheel wrong or you will be in the ditch.

Q:
Matthew, your first time here and you’ve done just two passes on the recce, what’s your opinion of the country and stages and do they compare to any other rallies in the WRC?

MW:
It’s a totally different culture, we’ve got the first time with the 2006 car and that’s a big challenge as well. It felt good this morning, but it’s hard to tell at shakedown. Like Seb said, there was a lot of heavy rain in the recce; it’s hard to see the real slippery places. It is narrow and quick, if you put a wheel wrong, you’ll be off. If we can get around and get to the finish, I’ll be quite happy. They’re fairly unique stages, not really like anything else I’ve seen. There are a couple of stages which are wide and quick, but under the trees – where the daylight doesn’t get to – it’s slippery and tough.

Q:
You’re driving the 2006 specification Focus for the first time. Having done the shakedown, what do you think of it and how different does it feel behind the wheel? With no experience here, what’s a realistic target that going to make you and your father (Malcolm Wilson) happy?

MW:
It’s the first time I’ve driven a car with passive differentials. It was quite tight and slippery at shakedown this morning, so it was hard to tell. We’ve only done 38 km (in the car) so far, we’ll see what happens in the morning. It’ll be a new challenge. If you look at the entry, then it’s possible to get points – but I’m sure dad will say get to the end and make the finish. But if we can make some points then I’ll be happy.

Q:
Petter; your home rally, so how much added pressure do you feel in Japan? A rally of mixed emotions for you too; the first year you won and last year you dramatically retired while leading. What’s it going to be this year?

PS:
We had more pressure last year. After a disappointing start to the season, it’s not so bad. We can show the Subaru people what we’re good for. The plan to start with is to go for a podium finish and take it from there. We need to start from scratch again; it’s been a very long season. There was so much rain on the recce, but I like the rally. It’s very tricky and easy to be caught out by loose rocks on the side of the road. I hope we can come through with no problems. I like the rally, though. The stages were and are very narrow.

Q:
It was a rock last year that cost you victory, how badly do you think the stages will rut up this year and will you really have to be on your guard?

PS:
There’s nothing you can do, just keep in the ruts and hope that it will not happen to anybody. The stone is in England and everybody is spitting on it sometimes!

Q:
There are legions of Subaru fans cheering you and Chris (Atkinson) and Toshi (Arai) on. What would it mean to them and the whole team to finish on top of the podium in Japan?

PS:
I think, for everybody, the whole top management from Subaru and Fuji Heavy Industries and of course all of the fans, it would be good. I hope we can do the best we can; with some good teamwork we can do it.

QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR:

Fred Billet (Echappement, France)

Q:
Has your dad been hard with you, giving you a car with a longer track here?

MW:
The car is a lot bigger and the stages are narrow, but it’s a fantastic car; that is proven already. We just need to keep it looking like new!